Tom Green trains for possible NCAA football history at 61

Tom Green is back in fall training at McDaniel College at age 61, working toward a possible game appearance that could put him in NCAA record territory. The former cancer patient and business owner is preparing for the 2026 season while balancing football, school and work.

Why it matters: - Tom Green's next snap could move him from a national feel-good story to college football history. - A regular-season appearance for McDaniel College's 61-year-old defensive lineman would put him in position to challenge the NCAA age record. - Green is also balancing full-time studies and running Northeast Pallet, LLC, making the comeback more than a symbolic return to sports.

What happened: - Green is in his second week of fall training with McDaniel College football in Westminster, Pennsylvania. - He is preparing for the 2026 season as a defensive lineman for the Green Terror. - McDaniel opens the season Sept. 4 against Catholic University. - Green said practice has him focused on earning a roster spot and a chance to play, not on the attention around his age.

The details: - Green returned to college football at age 60 and is now 61. - He is conditioning, practicing and competing alongside teammates decades younger than him. - Green went straight into the workforce after high school, built a career, raised his family and became president of Northeast Pallet, LLC in Littlestown, Pennsylvania. - In 2015, Green was diagnosed with Stage IV kidney cancer. - After surviving cancer, Green returned to school, enrolled at McDaniel College and pursued football. - His comeback drew national coverage from Fox News and PEOPLE. - The journey has also been tracked on social media under #tomgreen0to60in6decades. - Green says the focus in practice is on getting better, doing his job and earning the chance to play.

Between the lines: - Green's story has shifted from a one-time return to a legitimate attempt at game-day participation. - The move from simply joining the team to competing for playing time is what makes the age-record angle real. - The attention around Green reflects how unusual it is for a 61-year-old to be training for college football.

What's next: - McDaniel College will continue fall training ahead of its Sept. 4 opener. - Green will keep competing for a spot on the field during the 2026 season. - Social updates will continue under #tomgreen0to60in6decades.

The bottom line: - Tom Green is no longer just chasing a comeback story. He is chasing the chance to play college football at 61 and make history.